Waldshut-Tiengen on the High Rhine is a worthwhile destination for a day trip: two historic old towns, weekly markets, the Rhine – and Switzerland just across the river. From Ühlingen-Birkendorf you reach Waldshut after around 22 km, about 30 minutes by car.

This article introduces Waldshut and Tiengen and their sights, shows when and where you can shop, and explains the most important rules on VAT and customs to guests from Switzerland – each with sources from the authorities.

Waldshut-Tiengen: two old towns in one city

Photo: Gerd Eichmann /Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The present-day town came into being in 1975, when Waldshut merged with Tiengen and Gurtweil to form the Große Kreisstadt (large district town) of Waldshut-Tiengen. Waldshut, the western part, lies on the Rhine; Tiengen in the east lies on the Wutach. Both districts have their own well-preserved old town.

If you want to see both, it is best to plan half a day to a full day. The two town centres are around 7 km apart, about 15 minutes by car.

Waldshut: town gates, Kaiserstraße and town hall

Upper Gate and Lower Gate

Waldshut is considered to have been founded around 1249 under Count Rudolf of Habsburg. The old town is closed off by two medieval gates: the Upper Gate (Schaffhauser Tor) with foundations from the 13th century and the Lower Gate (Basler Tor). Both were damaged during the siege by the Swiss Confederates in 1468; the town itself was not taken at that time. The Upper Gate served as a prison until 1864.

Kaiserstraße and town hall

Between the gates runs the Kaiserstraße, laid out in the 13th century as a market street. It has been a pedestrian zone since 1989; at that time the Stadtbach (town stream) also returned to the middle of the street. After 1989, three new fountains were built, at the Upper Gate, at the town hall and at the Lower Gate.

The town hall was built in 1766 in the Baroque style, after the great town fire of 1726 had destroyed the old town hall. In the double coat of arms you can see the Habsburg lion and the “Waldshuter Männle”.

Liebfrauenkirche and museum

The Catholic parish church of Liebfrauen was built from 1804 to 1808 in the Neoclassical style and consecrated on 15 August 1808. A museum has been housed in the Alte Metzig since 1938.

Tiengen: castle, Storchenturm and Baroque church

Tiengen is first mentioned around the year 860. From 1482 it was the capital and residence town of the Landgraviate of Klettgau.

Tiengen Castle

The castle goes back to a fortress of the Lords of Krenkingen, documented since the 13th century. In 1499, Swiss Confederate troops destroyed the fortress during a siege. It was rebuilt in the mid-16th century; this created the “Neues Schloss” as the residence of the Counts of Sulz. In 1687 it passed to the Princes of Schwarzenberg, and in the 18th century the interior was given a Baroque design.

Photo: Buchstapler /Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Storchenturm and Hauptstraße

The Storchenturm was a corner tower of the town fortifications, which were demolished in the mid-19th century. Because it served for a time as a prison, it was also called the “Diebesturm” (Thieves' Tower); the roof cap dates from 1899. The tower is regarded as a landmark of Tiengen.

Along the partly car-free Hauptstraße stand, among other things, the town hall of 1582 and several historic fountains.

Parish church of St. Mariä Himmelfahrt

The church was built from 1753 to 1755 by the Vorarlberg Baroque master builder Peter Thumb, one of his late works. The Rococo stucco is by Johann Georg Gigl, the ceiling frescoes by Eustachius Gabriel.

Shopping in Waldshut: town centre and weekly market

The pedestrian areas are the main invitation to a stroll: the Kaiserstraße in Waldshut and the Hauptstraße in Tiengen. Individual shops and their opening hours are deliberately not listed here – they change too often.

According to the town, the weekly market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:00 to 13:00 (as of October 2026), in Waldshut on the Kaiserstraße, in Tiengen on the Hauptstraße. If a market day falls on a public holiday, the market is held on the day before. On event days the market in Tiengen may be cancelled; in Waldshut it then moves to the Viehmarktplatz.

Further markets – including general goods markets and a potters' market in Waldshut – are listed in the town's holiday magazine 2026. The dates are in the events calendar at waldshut-tiengen.de.

Waldshut for guests from Switzerland: shopping, border and customs

For guests from Switzerland, Waldshut lies just across the border; the crossing is via Koblenz–Waldshut. The following rules come from the customs authorities. They may change – please check the linked pages before you travel (retrieved in October 2026).

Shopping in Germany: reclaiming VAT

Anyone resident in a non-EU country such as Switzerland can have the German turnover tax (VAT) on goods refunded. According to German customs, the following applies:

The goods must be taken out of Germany in personal luggage within three months of purchase; dispatch by post or freight forwarder does not count.
Each receipt must be more than €50 including VAT (at least €50.01).
You first pay the full price. The retailer completes the export and customer certificate, and at customs the customs office of exit confirms the export – you must show the goods for this. The retailer then refunds the tax, either directly or via a service provider that deducts a fee.
Services such as restaurant visits or overnight stays are excluded from the refund.

For the border with Switzerland, customs has also listed a digital procedure since 16 June 2026 via the “dAKZ” app, the use of which is voluntary. You will find further information at zoll.de under “Tax free einkaufen”.

Returning to Switzerland: 150 Swiss francs per person and day

For import into Switzerland, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) specifies a value allowance of 150 Swiss francs per person and day; it also applies to children. The decisive factor is the value of the goods after deduction of foreign VAT, provided this is shown on the receipt.

If the total value exceeds 150 Swiss francs, Swiss VAT is due on the entire value – not just on the excess amount. A single item worth more than 150 Swiss francs is always subject to tax. Separate duty-free allowances also apply to food, alcohol and tobacco, which the BAZG lists in a table. Swiss customs cannot refund foreign VAT; with the “QuickZoll” app you can declare goods yourself. Keep your receipts.

Festivals and markets through the year

Waldshuter Chilbi: It goes back to the siege of 1468. A memorial service for the dead developed into a multi-day festival after 15 August.
Tiengener Schwyzertag: The local festival goes back to a commemoration of a raid in the early 15th century, which was later extended to the victims of the siege of 1499. It has been celebrated as a local festival since 1935, over several days around the first Sunday in July.
Christmas markets: In Waldshut the market takes place on the Kaiserstraße between the two gates, in Tiengen on the Hauptstraße at the foot of the castle and parish church. In Waldshut it runs, according to the town, from the first weekend of Advent until Christmas. You will find further ideas in the article on Christmas market in the Black Forest.

Practical tips for your trip

How to get there from the hotel: To the Waldshut town hall it is around 22 km, about 30 minutes by car; to Tiengen Castle around 20 km, about 25 minutes. By public transport: train to Waldshut-Tiengen, then bus from there to Birkendorf Außendorf.
Parking: In Waldshut there is the Parkhaus Viehmarktplatz at the Lower Gate with 600 spaces. In Tiengen there are the Schloßgarage and a park-and-ride car park at the station. Charges and times are set by the town on its parking pages.
Tourist Information: Wallstraße 26, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00; from April to September and on Saturdays in December additionally on Saturdays 10:00 to 12:00 (as of October 2026). Telephone 07751 833-200.
Guided tours: The town offers historical tours and theatrical tours; dates are on the “Stadtführungen” page.
Other destinations: The town also names the Haselbach waterfall, the Vitibuckturm in Tiengen and the Waldshut game park as excursion destinations.

Waldshut-Tiengen as a day trip from our hotel

Photo: Wellnesshotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde

Wellnesshotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde is in Birkendorf, in the southern High Black Forest at 800 metres above sea level and close to the Swiss border. It is around 22 km to Waldshut, about 30 minutes by car. This fits well with a day that begins with the breakfast buffet and winds down in the afternoon in the spa area: it is open daily from 9:00 to 20:00, the panoramic sauna with forest view (Finnish sauna) from 12:00 to 20:00.

From Switzerland you reach us via the A3 Basel–Baden and the Koblenz–Waldshut border crossing – that is, directly through Waldshut. As a day guest, you can use our Day Spa : “Schwarzwald Light” costs €29.90 (entry plus wellness bag), “Schwarzwald” with afternoon snack buffet €45.90, “Schwarzwald Plus” with country breakfast buffet €59.90. We accept reservations by email at info@sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de.

You can read more about our location and how to get here on our page on Wellness in the Black Forest near Switzerland. The Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen and the Rothaus Brewery can also be easily combined with a trip to Waldshut. If you would like to stay overnight, Book directly with us – the best price guarantee applies on our website.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Waldshut-Tiengen from Ühlingen-Birkendorf?

It is around 22 km to the Waldshut town hall, about 30 minutes by car. To Tiengen Castle you drive around 20 km, about 25 minutes (route calculation with OSRM, October 2026).

What should you have seen in Waldshut-Tiengen?

In Waldshut, the Upper and Lower Gates, the Kaiserstraße with the town hall of 1766 and the Liebfrauenkirche. In Tiengen, the castle, the Storchenturm and the parish church of St. Mariä Himmelfahrt.

When is the weekly market in Waldshut-Tiengen?

According to the town, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:00 to 13:00, in Waldshut on the Kaiserstraße and in Tiengen on the Hauptstraße (as of October 2026).

Can I get VAT back in Waldshut as a Swiss resident?

Yes, if you are resident in Switzerland, take the goods out in your personal luggage within three months and the receipt is more than €50. Customs confirms the export, and the retailer handles the refund. Details can be found at zoll.de.

How much can I import into Switzerland duty-free?

The BAZG specifies a value allowance of 150 Swiss francs per person and day for goods for private use or as gifts. Separate allowances apply to food, alcohol and tobacco. Check the current values on bazg.admin.ch before you travel.

Is there a Christmas market in Waldshut-Tiengen?

Yes, in both districts: in Waldshut on the Kaiserstraße, in Tiengen on the Hauptstraße. You will find the exact dates and times for 2026 in the town's events calendar.

Waldshut-Tiengen: old town, shopping and tips for a day trip

Waldshut-Tiengen: two old towns in one city